Combined shelf and robe rail



Nov. 22, 1932. H. AD LER 1,888,253

4 COMBINED SHELF. AND ROBE RAIL Filed Feb. 15, 1932 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES HERMAN ADLER, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA COMBINED SHELF AND ROBE BAIL lipplication fil ed February 18, 1932. Serial No. 593,058.

This invention is a combined shelf and robe rail or towel bar and has special reference to a device to be installed on the rear of the front seat of an automotive vehicle, whereby a folding shelfis provided as also a suitable robe rail. The device is similarly applicable to use in bath rooms providing a folding shelf and towel bar.

In the usual automotive vehicle no place is provided where glasses, cups and other utensils may be safely set while eating lunches or in other cases where a place is desired to deposit articles which must be maintained in a certain position.

It is for such purposes that the present invention was evolved.

The main object of the invention therefore is to provide a folding shelf for automotive veh1cles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined shelf and robe rail or towel bar in which the weightof the rail or bar will retain the shelf in folded position, and in which resilient or frictional means retains the shelf in operative position, the rail functioning as a retainer for the folded shelf.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a shelf of the folding type with adjusting means whereby the operative angle of the shelf may be varied relative to the supporting surface.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description is read on the drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar reference characters are used to indicate similar parts throughout the several views, of which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the front seat of an automotive vehicle with my invention installed thereon. 1

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the invention'in folded position.

Fig. his an end elevation of the invention in operative position.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of Fig. 3, Figs. 4 and 5 being drawn to an enlarged scale.

' The invention consists primarily of a pair of brackets secured to the back of the seat of an automotive vehicle, arms hingedly connected at one end to the brackets, a shelf having the opposite ends liingedly connected intermediate the front and rear edges to the other end of the arms, a robe rail spanning the rear end of the shelf and pivotally connected thereto, the pivots cooperating with stops which are provided with protuberances to resiliently or frictionally engage the pivots, whereby the shelf is retained in opera0 ative position by the protuberances, and retained in folded position by the'weight of the robe rail.

The brackets 10 are formed with a pair of ears 1]. provided with a pivot 12 to hingedly support the arms 13, the brackets being secured to a wall or seat by means of bolts or screws 14.

A shelf 15 is pivotally secured at its oppo siteends, intermediate the front and back edges to the other end of arms 13 as indicated at 16. This shelf is preferably sup ported at a point intermediate'therear edge and the center. of the shelf whereby the lever arm is greater on the forward portion than on the rear.

Pivotally secured adjacent the rear ed e of the shelf,in spanning relation is a ro e rail 17 which is formed at right angles at each end to substantially broad U form, the legs of which terminate in eyes 18, which cooperate with the pivots or pins 19 which extend exteriorly of the eyes as indicated at 20, to cooperate with steps 21, and areadapted to be frictionally engaged by a tongue 22 35 made of resilient material or provided with glprotuberance 23, and integral with stops Stops 21 are preferably slotted as at 24 to adj ustably cooperate with screws 25 which may be provided with thumb nuts although in ordinary use, the stops will be adjusted to the desired position and be retained in this position.

Fig. 4 shows the stops adjusted to retain the shelf in horizontal position, while Fig. 2 shows the stops adjusted to retain the shelf in inclined position.

By this arrangement, a shelf is provided which is adapted to various purposes though comprising a pair 0 opposite ends by a pair cf a;

primarily intended for use in autometive vehicles, to replace the usual robe rail, is also ideally adapted to bath room use, and as the stops are adjustable the shelf is readily adjusted to suit the requirements as both, the mounting surface and the angie of inclination of the shelf relative to the mounting surface,

The shelf when folded back is retained in folded position by the robe rail.

Having described an operative device It will be understood that variations con struction andarrangement of parts which are consistent with the a pended cieirns may be resorted to without cl tracting from the spirit or scope o I "ion er sacrificing any of the ildVfLLiLiZ.

I claim:

1. A combined is porting arms, a she of the transverse ends by said arms, cured rearwardly of to normally retain said r position by the weight ments adapted to retain said she l; tive position.

2. A combined folding shelf comprising a shel hingedly su ter and rearward edge the sl" rail spanning said shelf pi cured rearwardly of the supporting points of said arms whereby said robe rail a ed to normally retain said shelf inept tive position, engaging elements on said shelf, and stop elements adjustahly ed and adapted to cooperate with said engaging elements for retaining said shelf operative position.

3. In combinatioma shelf, a linlr pivotally secured to each end of the shelf rearward 1y of the center of gravity, a robe rail ion" gitudinallv spanning the shelf and pivotally secured adjacent, the rearward edge of the shelf and means for frictionally retaining the shelf in operative position against the weight of the robe rail.

4. In combination, a shelf, a link for each end of the shelf and pivotally secured at one end to said shelf rearwardl of the center of gravit and a bracket lvotally secured to the ot er end of each ink, a. robe rail spannin the shelf and pivotally secured'at each en adjacent the rearward edge of the shelf, and means for frictionally retaining the shelf in operative ition.

In testimony whereo I afix my si 1 ature.

I-ERMAN i1) It,

assesse- 

